Author: jlschock

Back of Book:

A Day in the Life of a Pair of Trousers and Other Stories: 48 Stories for Use in Christian Worship and on Other Occasions offers worship leaders a treasury that opens up the Scriptures to children.

The storyteller, Brian A. Curtis, recognizes the deep need for churches to share biblically grounded stories with children who come to worship, especially in congregations where worship tends to cater to adults. He also acknowledges the difficulties faced in asking children, who are unfamiliar with church practices, to gather at the front of the church. As a consequence, A Day in the Life of a Pair of Trousers and Other Stories is designed to work well with children, particularly with those who wish to remain seated with their families.

The stories use simple, colourful, and enchanting language to tell memorable tales that bring key biblical themes and texts to life. They can be read aloud, straight from the page, to children of all ages. Indeed, adults may well be found listening and engaged in the stories. Forty-four of the stories stand on their own. The remaining four are linked in episodic format intended to be used over consecutive worship services.

This collection of forty-eight stories equips worship leaders to offer uplifting biblical messages to children, especially to those who may be unfamiliar with Christian worship.

My Review:

A Day in the Life of a Pair of Trousers and Other Stories  48 Stories for Use in Christian Worship and on Other Occasions By Brian A Curtis is a captivating book that is excellent for a family devotional. Each of the 48 short stories have a moral and a scripture. Some morals include holding grudges, caring for one another, loving our enemies, being humble, imitating others, giving and sharing, giving your troubles to Jesus, forgiveness, trusting in Jesus, observing rules, baptism with water, preparing to meet God, dealing with anger, the value of friendship, being the light of the world. I decided to review A Day in the Life of a Pair of Trousers and Other Stories  48 Stories for Use in Christian Worship and on Other Occasions By Brian A Curtis because the cover caught my attention. Like the cover, I quickly realized that each story kept my attention also. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a light hearted devotional that could be used with children or a family setting.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Review:

Warfare Praying by Mark I Bubeck is an excelent book on spiritual warfare and praying. It is an expanded version of Mark I. Bubeck’s book The Adversary. Mark I. Bubeck splits this book into four parts. Part One The Supremacy of Christ explains that Satan is not invincible, how to keep a sovereign perspective and the believers union with Christ. Part Two -The Work of the Holy Spirit explains the person of the Holy Spirit and His power. Part Three- The Whole Armor of God explains in great detail each piece of the armor of God. Part Four- The Weapon of Prayer lists several prayers useful in warfare praying. I think that the entire book is useful but I most enjoyed the part on the armor of God because of how the author explains each of the pieces of armor. The author doesn’t just quote a scripture but takes approximately ten pages to write about each piece. For example, when talking about the helmet of salvation Mark I Bubeck talks about The mind under siege, protecting the mind, Satan’s strategies to control the mind, Jesus Christ as our helmet, how the helmet protects us, hope shields the mind and ends with a prayer to put on the helmet.

I highly suggest this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the armor of God, spiritual warfare or prayer.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-review-program I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Description

The enemy wants us to feel rejected . . . left out, lonely, and less than. When we allow him to speak lies through our rejection, he pickpockets our purpose. Cripples our courage. Dismantles our dreams. And blinds us to the beauty of Christ’s powerful love.

In Uninvited, Lysa shares her own deeply personal experiences with rejection—from the incredibly painful childhood abandonment by her father to the perceived judgment of the perfectly toned woman one elliptical over.

With biblical depth, gut-honest vulnerability, and refreshing wit, Lysa helps readers: • Release the desire to fall apart or control the actions of others by embracing God-honoring ways to process their hurt. • Know exactly what to pray for the next ten days to steady their soul and restore their confidence. • Overcome the two core fears that feed our insecurities by understanding the secret of belonging. • Stop feeling left out and start believing that “set apart” does not mean “set aside.” • End the cycle of perceived rejection by refusing to turn a small incident into a full blown issue.

My Review

Uninvited  Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely By Lysa TerKeurst is a helpful book for everyone if you are going through rejection or not. If you are going through rejection, this book can help you by Lysa’s personal stories and advice. If you are not going through rejection, this book can help you help someone that is going though rejection. I reviewed the ebook version. I like printed books much better but I was very excited to review this book that I agreed to reviewing the ebook version. This ebook has great format which I appreciate. It felt like I was reading a real book.

Uninvited  Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely By Lysa TerKeurst has 16 chapters plus a bonus chapter. At the end of the book there is an Assessment Corrective Experience Chart, a note from Lysa.Acknowledgements, Scriptures, Things I don’t want you to forget and Notes. Some chapter titles include, “Id Rather Ignore Honesty”, “Alone in a Crowded Room”, “Friendship Breakups”, “Why Does Rejection Hurt So Much?” and “Ten Things Yu Must Remember When Rejected”

I encourage anyone who is going through rejection or knows of anyone going through rejection to buy this book because I know this book will help you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Review

Hidden In My Heart Scripture Memory Bible NLT is an excellent resource for anyone who is serious about Scripture Memorization. Scripture memorization is so often overlooked and this Bible helps fill in that gap. The Hidden In My Heart Scripture Memory Bible NLT has introductions for each book of the Bible. There are 100 core verses in this Bible. For each core verse selected there is a page created to help the reader memorize in three translations: NLT, NIV and KJV, explore & apply, and pray. Each core verse is included in the Digging Deeper section in the back of the Bible and has a corresponding song to download to learn by singing. The Digging Deeper section has the verse in one translation, a commentary and questions to help apply the Scripture. There are 136 challenge verses. Each challenge verse has a section presenting each verse in the three translations listed above. Six of the challenge verses are included in the digging deeper section located in the back. With all the effort put in this Bible, I’m surprised that all of the challenge verses are not included in the Digging Deeper section. In the front of the Bible there is instructions for downloading the songs, a presentation and dedication section, a table of contents, a note to readers, a list of contributors, a user’s guide, Ten Hide-it helpers, and seven thematic memory verse plans with checklists.  In the back of the Bible, there are two checklists to keep track of progress, the Digging Deeper section, a Topical Memory Verse Finder, a list of great Bible passages to memorize, a list of tips and Bible stories to know and share, and two song indexes. I would buy this Bible for my own children and I recommend every parent buying this Bible for their children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale Blog Network. http://www.tyndaleblognetwork.com/ I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Description

Do you have questions in regard to spiritual warfare?

Trusted pastor and bestselling author Dr. David Jeremiah brings clarity to the complex topic of spiritual warfare. From his years of teaching on this subject, Pastor Jeremiah has selected answers to your pertinent questions concerning victory in the spiritual realm.

The Bible says God will ultimately be victorious and win the spiritual war. But it also says He has given every Christian promises and power to win our daily spiritual battles. The book includes 86 questions with answers such as: How does Satan imitate God? Are demons real? What protection does the shield of faith provide? How can I defend myself against a hostile world? How do I “put on” Christ?

My Review

Format: Ebook

The Spiritual Warfare Answer Book by Dr. David Jeremiah explains why everyone should study spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare a subject that many people ignore and encourage others to ignore. But the truth is if we ignore it or not we are in a spiritual war and we need to understand how to fight so we do not become casualties of war or caught in crossfire. It is time that Christians take spiritual warfare seriously. Dr. David Jeremiah explains who we are fighting against and that every true Christian is called to be a soldier. He answers many questions such as Why study spiritual warfare?, How can I be a courageous warrior for God when I feel powerless?, Why is it important to understand the enemy?, What do we know about Satan’s origin?, Are demons real?, What are demons?, and Can a believer be possessed by a demon? The author spends the rest of the book answering questions about the armor of God. He explains each piece of armor, the protection, importance and why to wear each piece. The author ends the book with a section on prayer and a conclusion. There is a nice reference guide in the back including Spiritual Warfare Reference Guide and Prayer Reference Guide. Although I do not personally agree with all the answers that Dr. David Jeremiah gives, he does give a good beginning in understanding spiritual warfare.  I recommend this book to anyone studying spiritual warfare.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Description

Context Changes Everything

You’ve heard many Bible stories hundreds of times, but how many behind-the-scenes details are you missing? Sometimes a little context is all you need to discover the rich meaning behind the stories of Scripture.

That’s what the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible provides. Every page is packed with expert insight into the customs, culture, and literature of Bible times. These fascinating explanations will serve to clarify your study of the Scriptures, reinforcing your confidence and bringing difficult passages of Scripture into sharp focus.

Discover new dimensions of insight to even the most familiar Bible passages as you take a behind-the-scenes tour into the ancient world.

The Bible was originally written to an ancient people removed from us by thousands of years and thousands of miles. The Scriptures include subtle culturally based nuances, undertones, and references to ancient events, literature and customs that were intuitively understood by those who first heard the Scriptures read. For us to hear the Scriptures as they did, we need a window into their world.

The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, with notes from Dr. John H. Walton (Wheaton College) in the Old Testament and Dr. Craig S. Keener (Asbury Theological Seminary) in the New Testament, brings to life the ancient world of Scripture for modern readers.

Features: • The full text of the NIV • Targeted book introductions explain the context in which each book of the Bible was written • Insightful and informative verse-by-verse study notes reveal new dimensions of insight to even the most familiar passages • Key Old Testament (Hebrew) and New Testament terms are explained and expanded upon in two helpful reference features • Over 300 in-depth articles on key contextual topics • 375 full-color photos, illustrations, and images from around the world • Dozens of charts, maps, and diagrams in vivid color • Words of Jesus in red • Additional study Bible tools: cross references, a concordance, indexes and other helps

My Review

The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible is an impressive book for people who are interested with the cultural background of the Bible. The page quality and feel is soft and not too thin. This is a heavy book. I would not want to carry this book around but it is perfect for a study. The cross references are helpful but could be more extensive. The study notes are unique in that they focus on the culture pertaining to the people, the land, the literature and political nature of the specific culture in the Bible. The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible has several indexes including a nice concordance, a useful index to maps, and an index of articles.  The full color pictures and maps help connect to the archaeology of the time period. Each book has an introduction describing the uniqueness of each book like the authorship, date and purpose. There is a section between the Old and New Testaments entitled “The Time Between The Testaments” I recommend this Bible to anyone interested in biblical history and culture.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

JesusWalk : Beginning the Journey: Discipleship & Spiritual Formation Lessons by Ralph F. Wilson is book focused on new believers just starting their walk with Jesus. Dr. Ralph F. Wilson explains why discipleship is key to growth in any one. But any one who walks with Jesus can learn something in this book.  Each lesson has a reading, a prayer, a memory verse and questions. This book has 12 lessons: Rescue-Grace and Forgiveness, Disciple-Following Jesus Daily, Temptations-Getting Victory over Sin, Fellowship- Connecting to a Community of Christians, Love- The Core of Christianity, Gospel- Understanding Christ’s Story, Holy Spirit, The Power of God’s Presence, Witness- Sharing Your Faith, Worship- Communing with God, Generosity and Service- Love in Action, Bible- Guidebook for Living, Lord- Obedient Servants of the King. This book also has an appendix with four parts: The Role of the Mentor, For Pastors and Church Leaders, How to Select a Bible, Discipleship Resources. I recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn about discipleship.

From the Back Cover

My Review:

I Am Found is a 6-week Bible Study that helps us to learn that the reason behind why we hide is shame, guilt and humiliation. Each day has several scripture readings, many questions to journal what the reader takes from each study and a daily prayer. I like how all the Scripture and activities to do are in blue ink while the author’s writing is in black ink. The paper quality is perfect for a journal. The author divides this study into six chapters each including six days worth of study: an introduction and five sessions. Week 1: Fig Leaves Don’t Hide Anything, Week 2: Know Your Enemy, Week 3: Come Out, Come Out, Whereever Yu Are!, Week 4: You Are Not Alone, Week 5: You Are Enough, Week 6: You Are Found.
I recommend this Bible Study to anyone who needs encouragement about who they are in Christ because this book greatly encouraged me.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-review-program I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the Back Cover

About the Author

My Review

NOTE: I reviewed the paperback version.
When I received this book, my first word was “WOW”. This is a Bible study that takes the reader verse by verse through Acts 1-12. This is an intense study that is perfect for those who truly want to know the word of God better. I like how all the questions and activities are in blue ink while all the commentary from the author is in black ink. The number of questions impressed me. The study is also full of cross references that pertain to the study. The introduction explains about a group leaders guide and some extra material available on the authors website. The book is organized beautifully. I love the touch of watercolor that ties into the blue colored questions. The paper is a nice thickness to be able to journal and write as you go through the study. This book is really a work of art. I wish I could find more Bible studies like this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review from the publisher through the Moody Blogger Review Program. http://www.mpnewsroom.com/content/blogger-review-program I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

From the Back Cover

My Review

Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and Why It Matters by Jack Graham discusses the topic of angels in a unique way. Instead of making a reference style book, Jack Graham tells stories involving angels and the character of God.  Jack Graham splits the book up into four sections: Part One The Wisdom of Angels and You Start the Journey, Part Two The Protection of Angels as You Sustain Life’s Blows, Part Three The Encouragement of Angels as You Soar on Eagles’ Wings, Part Four The Presence of Angels as You Stay the Course With Christ. Each section is broken up into three to four chapters. FORGIVENESS When You’ve Sinned Against God, PERSPECTIVE When You Can’t See Strait, PROVISION When You Are in Need, CONFIDENCE When You Are Being Led by the Spirit, COMFORT When You Are Afraid, COURAGE When You Are in Danger, ADVOCACY When You’re Excluded or Despised, SHELTER In the Midst of the Storm, SPURRED ON When You’re Spiritually Lethargic, FAITHFULNESS When You’ve Been Broken, VICTORY When You Are Tempted, COMPASSIONSHIP When You Are Lonely, PERSISTENCE When You Want to Give Up, ASSURANCE When You Are Dying, INSPIRATION When You’re Short on Hope. Each chapter has several stories related to the chapter title. The wide range of subtopics leaves a wide variety for everyone to find something to relate to. My favorite part was in the first chapter where Jack Graham talks about the holiness of God. Jack Graham brings a new light to people found in the Bible and their encounters with angels that will leave the reader changed in a positive way. I recommend this book for anyone needing encouragement and anyone wanting to learn more about angels.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse/bookreviewers I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”